JEFFERSON TWP — Connor Shinsky saw it as a sign.

“I woke up Sunday morning and didn’t want to leave,” the senior offensive tackle said of his weekend visit to Kent State University.

By Sunday afternoon, Shinsky had committed to play football at the school.

Shinsky will receive a full scholarship and is already thinking about ways to improve his game and his build for the rigors of Division I football in the Mid-American Conference — a league that sent five teams to bowl games this year.

“The MAC has produced a lot of quality football players,” Knoch coach Mike King said. “Kent State plays a Big 10 program every year, they played LSU last year ... Connor will get a chance to experience some of the bigger venues in the country.

“It’s a great school with great academic tradition and it’s only an hour and a half away. He’s getting the best of both worlds and I’m excited for him.”

Shinsky will officially sign Feb. 5.

He’s pleased to have the weight of his decision off his shoulders.

“It’s definitely a relief,” he said. “Now any time someone asks me where I’m going to school, I can finally give them a straight answer.”

Shinsky, a 6-foot-5, 255-pound wrecking ball of a blocker, had interest from a slew of other schools.

But his visit over the weekend to Kent made his decision easy.

“The program and the coaches were big,” Shinsky said. “I also loved the campus and the players who I met. I just felt very comfortable there.”

Distance also played a role. Kent is close enough for his family to make the trip to see him play each week. Also, the longest road trip the Golden Flashes make next year is a seven-hour bus ride.

The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Shinsky had gotten quite a bit of mileage out of his physical gifts.

Despite his size, Shinsky is very athletic. He decided to re-join the basketball team at Knoch this season and is a key bench player.

He’s also played tight end for the Knights.

Kent State, though, wants him as an anchor at offensive tackle where Shinsky has uncommon quickness.

During a prospect camp, Shinsky showed off his athleticism in a drill that required players to carry sandbags and sprint 10 yards at a time.

Shinsky excelled at the drill and drew the eye of Kent State scouts.

“They already had their eye on me, but I think they saw how well I can move for my size,” Shinsky said.

He hopes to get even bigger.

Shinsky gained 35 pounds between his junior and senior seasons at Knoch and hopes to add more this offseason.

“He started last football season at 265 pounds,” King said. “After basketball season, he’s going to have to beef up, hit the weights, and he knows that.”

“I have broad shoulders and a big frame to put on some healthy weight,” Shinsky said. “I’m definitely going to stay in condition. I have some room to grow.”

Shinsky said King helped him tremendously during his college search and also during his playing days at Knoch.

“Every day was a fond memory playing for Coach King and the Knights,” he said. “Of course, I’ll always remember playing at Heinz Field for the WPIAL championship during my sophomore year and beating Mars last year.”

Shinsky becomes the third Knoch football player to go to a major college program in the past five years, joining Micah Leo (Akron) and Jake McTighe (Lafayette).